UNION — A joint project with the City of Union and the Union County School District is being utilized to help inform area citizens. The school district approached Mayor Harold Thompson with the idea of using Channel 14, the local access channel made available through Charter Communication, to keep people informed as to what is going on in Union County Schools. Mayor Thompson welcomed the idea with “open arms” saying this type of programming is what he has envisioned for Channel 14.
Arrangements were coordinated with Melissa Lawson who directs the Channel 14 operation, along with assistant Tim McFalls.
The first taping was done March 25 at the Career and Technology Center on the campus of Union County High School. The one hour programs features Union County Teachers of the Year in an informal discussion of their experiences as well as vision for the district.
Hosting the program is veteran broadcaster Mike Stevens. Stevens who has often said he doesn’t do interviews but prefers the open discussion format, calls the show one of the most candid and informational in which he has ever been involved. “These teachers really opened up and shared their thoughts on what some might consider sensitive issues,” Stevens said.
District Superintendent Kristi Woodall helped to initiate the idea saying “using the local access channel as a tool to disseminate information is something, to my knowledge, that has never been done before. With all the good things going in our district this program gives us the opportunity to tell the whole story without it being reduced to a few quotes or sound bites.”
Future programs are in the planning stage and will focus on the positive points of the school district.
The teachers appearing in the television program include: Union County School District Teacher of the Year and Union County High School Teacher of the year, Matthew Carroll, along with Heather Barnado from Buffalo Elementary School, Amy Truitt from Foster Park Elementary School, Shelley Vaughan from Lockhart School, Dena Addis from Monarch Elementary School and Kathryn Sommer-Gough from Sims Middle School. Jennifer Roberts from Jonesville Elementary-Middle School was not able to attend the taping.
The program is showing on The Union Connection, Channel 14 on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 2 p.m. and on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 12:45 a.m. and 9:45 p.m.
Anyone who may wish to view the program and is not a subscriber to Charter Cable may contact Channel 14 at the Union City Hall. DVD’s are available for a charge of $5 each.
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